COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Thursday, January 5, 2011)– The Colorado Rapids’ 2012 regular season schedule was released today, with the Rapids opening the campaign against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, March 10 at 4:00 p.m. MT at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Full 2012 season ticket packages are now on sale, and Rapids season ticket holders will have an opportunity for a special advance sale of single game tickets, starting at $22, again this year. The advance sale for full season ticket holders will be on February 2, and Rapids fans holding multi-game packages will have their special advance sale opportunity of single game tickets on February 3, before single game tickets (for games 1-8) go on sale to the general public on February 4. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call (303) 825-GOAL.

The Rapids will face Rocky Mountain Cup rival Real Salt Lake three times, hosting RSL on August 4 and traveling to Utah for matches on April 7 and July 21. The schedule also includes a pair of home matches against 2011 MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy on April 21 and Sept. 30.

Colorado will play a total of 34 matches against Major League Soccer’s other 18 clubs, including the expansion Montreal Impact, with 17 at home and 17 on the road. The Rapids will face each Western Conference club three times and Eastern Conference opponents once during the regular season.

The Rapids kick off their 17th season in Major League Soccer at home for only the fifth time, owning a 3-1-0 (W-L-T) in previous season openers in Colorado. In home openers, the Rapids have a 10-2-4 all-time record, as well as a 4-0-1 record at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Nine of the Rapids’ matches will be broadcast on national television, including four games with new league partner NBC Sports Network, four on Galavision, and the March 25 match at the New York Red Bulls on ESPN. Local television and radio broadcast information will be released ahead of the season.